Stack dump



sept. 12, 1933.

A. R.V THOMPSON Er AL, l`926,3l8

STACK DUMP Filed Sept. 15. 1931 6 Sheets-Sheec. l

Sept. 12, 193..

A. R. THOMPSON ET AL STACK DUMP Filed Sept. l5, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheel 2 pt. 12, 1933@ A. R. THOMPSQN Er AL. gm

STACK DUMP Filend Sept. l5, A1931 6 Shee'S-Sheel 3 Inventors C. bef// Byk A. R. THOMPSON Er AL A 1,926,318

STACK DUMP Filed Sept. 15,A 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 nurneys nfvenlms v A. 'R'THoMPsoN Er A1.-

STACK DUMP sep1. 12, 1933.

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed sept. 15. 1951 A. R. THoMP'soN ET AL 926,318

-STACK DUMP sept.. 12, 1933.

Filed sept. 15, 1931 6 sheets-sheet e lllll \l|lll lll Inventors Illll H Hill HLI Attorney;

Patented Sept. 1.2, 1933 .UNITI-:o STATES STACK DUIIP Albert R. Thompson, San Jose, and Clinton C.

Butler, Pomona,

Calif., amignors to Food Y Machinery Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a4 corporation of Delaware Application September 15, 1931 Serial No. 562,9591/5 8 Claims.

lThis invention relates to stack dumps, and more particularly to av device i'or the handling of boxes in stacks to dump the contents ofthe boxes -and to separate the empty boxes from the con tents thereof.

This invention is addressed to an improvement over the stacked box dumping machine disclosed in the co-pending application of Albert R. Thompson, Serial No. 553,585 led July 28, 1931. YAn object of this invention is to provide a stack dump winch includes a iioor conveyor for the conveying of boxes in stacks to an elevator for elevating the stack of boxes and wherein means are provided for controlling the feeding of the stacks of boxes to the Aelevating means in timed relation vwith the position of the stack of boxes being elevated by the elevating means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a stack dump which includes a iloor conveyor upon which boxes in stacks may be positioned, an elevator to which the stack of boxes are delivered by the floor conveyor, a means for driving the elevator and the floor conveyor, includingmeans for arrestingthe drive of the elevator when stacks of boxes are not fed thereto and for arresting the operation of the door conveyor when a stack of boxes has been delivered by the floor conveyor to the elevator in position to be in the way of the delivery of a further stack of boxes to the elevating means, and when said further stack of boxes is in position immediately adjacent the elevator means.

Anotherobject. of this invention is to provide an improved' form of box stack dump including the iloor conveyor, an elevator, means for operating the conveyor and the elevator in timed relation with reference to position of the stacks of boxes in the apparatus, and means for dumping the boxes as th 1 are elevated and for separating the articles or fruit as dumped from the boxes and the empty boxes.

. Other objects and advantages of this invention it is ,believed will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. I

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a box dump embodying our invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation partially in section of a draper conveyor elevator embodying our invention.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the stack dump embodying our invention with the clamping means removed.

(Cl. ISS- 21) Figure 4 is a front elevation thereof. Figure 5 is an enlarged plan view of the floor conveyor mechanism embodied in our invention illustrating the same in position with relation to a fragment of the elevating means. Figure 6 is a side elevation partly in section ofthe apparatus as illustrated in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view of the box clamping mechanism embodied in our invention.

85 Figure 8 is a plan section o f the clamping wmechanism taken on line v8--8 of Figure-7.

In the preferred embodiment of our invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, 1 indicates a frame which is adapted to be positioned on the floor 2. Supported by the frame 1 is an elevator -3 provided for the raising of stacks oi boxes 4 from the iloor 2 to an elevated position so that the boxes of. the stacks. 4 may be inverted to dump the contents thereof.- 75 I The elevator 3 is preferably of the following construction:

Secured to the frame 1 is an elevator frame 5 consisting of spaced guides 6 and shaft brackets 'l secured to the lower end of the guides 6. Mounted on the frame 1 at its upper end in bearings is the elevator shaft 8, and adjustably mounted in shaft brackets 7 is a lower elevator shaft 9. f

Mounted on the shafts 8 and 9 are spaced elevatorA sprockets 10 and 11 over which elevator chains 12 are trained at the opposite sides of the frame 1. Secured between the chains 12 are spaced slats or drapers 13 forming the l draper conveyor elevator upon which the stacks 9o of boxes 4' are positioned and elevated. Secured tothe 'chains 12 are elevator Aplatform-arms 14 which are pivotally secured to the ears 15 made fast to certain of the slats or drapers 13 on theY chains 12 and are adapted to be supported in box receiving position by supporting arms 16 which are pivotally secured as indicated at 17 'to the outer ends of the arms 14 and at their 'opposite end are pivotally as indicated -at 17a to ears made fast to a sprocket 20 secured to the shaft 8. The chain 19 is driven by means of'a countershaft 21 supported by cross members 22 of the frame 1. The countershaft 21 is driven from a motor shaft 23 of an electric motor 24.

Motor shaft 23 drives the shaft 21 by first driving 4.a worm reduction gear unit 25, the shaft 26 of which is coupled by means of a coupling 27 to the hub 28 of a friction clutch 29. The axis of the hub 28 is in line with the shaft 21 and is coupled to the shaft 21 by means of the friction clutch 29 in a manner which will hereinafter be set forth.

Means are provided for delivering stacks of boxes 4 to the elevator 3, which means are preferably of the following construction:

The floor conveyor 30 is formed by a pair of spaced `chains 3l mounted to move in guide channels 32 imbedded in the floor 2 so that the upper run of the chains 31 projects slightly above the surfaceof the floor 2 to offer as little as possible obstruction to the free manipulation of the hand trucks or other devices which may be required for the positioning of stacks of boxes 4 upon the oor conveyor 30. The conveyor 30 may be of any suitable or desirable length and is therefore illustrated as broken away in' the drawings and the outer supporting end of such chains is not illustrated but its construction will be fully understood from the support provided sprockets 33 are driven by means of chains 36 which are trained over drive sprockets 39 secured to or formed integral with the hubs of the sprockets 33.

Chains 36 are driven from the drive shaft 37 which-is mounted in bearings 38. In order to drive the chains 36, sprockets 39a are secured to Vthe shaft 37. The shaft 37 is the driven shaft of a gear reduction unit 40 which is driven from which extends transversely of the frame. The

jack shaft 50 carries at its opposite ends driving sprockets 51 of the chain and` sprocket drive 46. The conveyor clutch 44 is of the friction type and is normally urged into engagement by springk means illustrated at 52.

Means are provided for actuating the elevator clutch 29, and means are likewise provided for actuating the oor conveyor clutch 44, and these means are so coupled together as to provide for the operation of the elevator 3 only when a stack of boxes 4 is delivered by the floor conveyor 30 to the elevatorv 3 and for the arrestingof the operation of the floor conveyor 30 when a stack of boxes 4 is positioned within the elevator 3 and another stack of boxes 4 is positioned in position immediately adjacent the elevator 3 so that it can not be further conveyed toward the elevator 3 because of the position of the other stack of boxes in the elevator 3.

In order to accomplish this timed operation in accordance with the position of the 'stacks -of boxes in the elevator 3 and on the conveyor 30, there is provided an elevator clutch lever 53 which is mounted to pass through the openings 18 formed in the draper conveyor of the elevator 3. The elevator clutch lever 53 is pivotally mounted on the shaft 54 which projects transversely of the frame 1 in the draper conveyor forming the elevator 3.

The lever 53 is pivotally mounted on the shaft and is yieldably urged outwardly through the openings 18 by means of a spring 55 which is interposed between the lever 53 and an arm 56 secured to the shaft 54. Secured to the end of the shaft 54 is an arm 57 which is pivotally secured to a clutch actuating rod 58. The clutch actuating rod 58 extends upwardly and is secured to one end of bell crank lever 59. The bell crank lever 59 is pivotally secured at 60 to the frame 1 and4 at the opposite arm 61 of the bell crank lever 59 provides a clutch actuating fork for actuating the elevator clutch 29.

In order to at all times hold the elevator clutch lever 53 in engaging position. a spring 62 is provided. The spring 62 is secured to an arm 63 at one end, and at its opposite end is secured to an arm 64 of the shaft 54.

When a stack of boxes 4 is delivered to the elevator 3, the stack of boxes 4 engages the elevator lever 53, causing the elevator clutch 29 to be engaged and thereby drive the draper conveyor forming the e1evator3. As the draper or slats 13 of the elevator pass by the elevatorv clutch lever 53, they hold the elevator clutch lever 53 depressed tomaintain the elevator clutch 29 engaged until one of the openings 18 formed through the draper conveyor comes in registry with the elevator clutch lever 53, at which time the stack of boxes 4 being elevated by the elevator 3 has been raised through the elevator out of the way of another advancing stack of boxes. As the lever 53 again projects through the draper, the driving of the elevator` 3 is arrested until a further stack of boxes 4 is delivere to the elevator. i

Mounted adjacent the elevator 3 within the floor conveyor 30 -is a floor conveyor clutch lever 65. The lever 65 normally projectsupward in position to be engaged by theA stack of boxes 4 as they are moved forwardly toward the elevator 3 by the Hoor conveyor 30. The lever 65 mounted on a shaft 66 is supported within the chains 31 forming the floor conveyor 30.

Secured to the shaft 66 is a shaft arm 67. The shaft arm 67 is in turn pivotally secured to a link 68. The link 68 is'pivotally secured to a floating clutch link 69.

ally mounted within the frame on a shaft 71 is a bell crank lever 72. One arm of the bell crank lever 72 is pivotally connected to a clutch actuating rod 73 which is inturn connected to a bell crank lever 74. The bell crank lever 74 is in turn connected with the clutch rod 75 which is secured to a shifter fork 76 of floor conveyor clutch 44. The other arm of the bell crank lever 72 carries a pin 77 which is mountedina slot 78 of a link 79. The link 79 is inturn connected by i a pivot 80 to floating clutch link 69.

In this mannerl the two clutch levers 53 and 65 are connected together s o that operation of the door conveyor clutch 44 is dependent upon-` the combined actuation of the clutch levers 53 and 65.

The operation is that when the iirst stack of boxes 4 passes onto lever 65, the lever 65 is depressed to depress the floating clutch link 69 down until the pin 77 reaches the upper end of the slot 78. Thisoperation does not result in actuation of the bell crank lever 72 so that the oor conveyor clutch 44 is not disengaged. The stack of boxes 4 then passes oil the iioor conveyor and engages the elevator clutch lever 53; setting in operation the elevator 3 and the stack of boxes 4 is elevated by the elevator 3. As the stack of boxes 4 passes olf the clutch lever 65 in engaging the clutch lever 53, the lever again returns to its upper position. If another stack of boxes 4 is immediately following the first stack of boxes 4 so that it holds the lever 65 down after the first stack of boxes has been delivered to the elevator 3, the actuation of the elevator clutch lever 53 to set in operation the elevator 3 results in the depression of the opposite end of the iioating clutch link 69, and as the pin 77 is already at the upper end of the slot 78, the bell crank lever 72 is rotated on its pivot 71 and the'floor conveyor clutch 44 is disengaged.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the interruption of the drive of the iloor conveyor 30 canonly occur when both the levers 53 and 65 are engaged, because thereis in theelevator 3 a stack' of boxes 4 which would prevent the delivery by the floor conveyor 30 of another stack of boxes and that the second stack of boxes follows so closely behind the stack of boxes delivered to the elevator that its delivery to the elevator would result in jamming the mechanism. Means are provided at the other end of the elevator 3 for dumping the contents of the boxes and disposing of the empty boxes, which means are preferably of the following construction:

Secured to the. frame 1 and mounted on the shaft 8 are cams 81. Secured to the shafts 8 so as to rotate with shafts 8 are discs 82.v The discs 82 are secured to flanged hub members 83, and the flanged hub members 83 are secured to the shaft 8. ASecured to the discs 82 at points spaced around the periphery thereof are brackets -84 `passed through the gripper feet ears 86.. The

trip link 91 is likewise pivotally mounted on a pin 95 which passes through the two spaced gripper links 90. Interposed between the trip members 91 and the gripper feet 93.are springs 96 which yieldably urgethe gripper feet 93 into position so that their serratedrgrip faces 97 will grip the sides of the boxes as they are elevated by the elevator 3.5

In the modification of our-invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, three such gripperfect 93 are provided on each side of the elevator so that as the gripper feet 93 are rotated with the shafts, each box is gripped by a pair of .the motor reduction gear shaft 26.

gripper feet 93 and inverted as it passes around the upper end -oi. thendraper conveyorforming the elevator 3 so that its contents are' dumped from the box'into an inclined chute 98 to form a plurality of spaced slats which leads from the upper end .of the conveyor forming the elevator 3 and inclines downwardly to a conveyor 99 by means of which the contents of the box are discharged from the apparatus and conveyed to a point where they are desired. The trip lever 91 is provided witha Itrip arm 100 which engages under the gripping feet 93 to` raise the gripping feet 93 from engagement with the box as the box reaches its uppermost tilted position, causing gripper feet 93 to release the box as the cam roller 88 passes into the abrupt face 101 of the cam 81. When the cam roller 88 rides up onto the vsur- Aface 102 of the cam 81, gripper links 90 are moved upwardly pivoting the gripper links 91. on the-pivot 94 and the spring 96 then urges gripper feet 93 into engagement with the boxes. This operationtakes place as the boxes reach substantially the upper end of their travel of the the curved end of the conveyor forming the ele- -vator 3. The box is released after it has passed the apex of this curve so that the upper end of the box is tilted toward the horizontal so that when the box is released, it slides over the curved l end of the conveyor forming the elevator 3 until it falls in inverted position on an empty box con-` veyor 103 by mea'ns of which the empty boxes are conveyed from the apparatus.

The conveyors 99 and 103 are both driven by 1 means of a chain 104 which passes over a sprocket 105 which is secured to an outward extension of Chain 104 passes over a sprocket 106 secured -to conveyor shaft 107 supported on an extension 108 of the 1 frame 1. Mounted on the shaft 107 are sprockets 109 for the spaced chains 110 of the conveyor 99. Chains 110 at their opposite end pass over sprockets 111 secured to a shaft 112 secured in bearing brackets 113. Brackets 113 are adjust- 1 ably secured as indicated at 114 to the frame 115 of the conveyor 99. Mounted on the shaft 107 is a box conveyor sprocket 116 for driving the chain 117. The chain 117 passes over a sprocket 118 mounted on the box conveyor shaft 119. 1 Spaced sheaves 120 are secured to the shaft 119 and spaced belts 121 pass over thesheaves 120 and are trained over idler sprockets 122 mounted on stub shaft 123 mounted in bearings secured to the frame 1 The two spaced belts 121 are 1 'spaced apart a distance less than the length of the box and provide means for engaging and conveying the boxes as they are emptied from the apparatus and are spaced vapart so as to permit the fruit as it is discharged from the boxes to 1 fall between them onto the inclined chute 98. Guide plates 124 are secured upon the opposite sides of the belts 121 to guide and maintain the boxes on the belts 121.

The guides 124 -extend from the `chains 121 around and along the'elevator 3 to guide the boxes as they are elevated by the elevator 3.v and are supported by means of brackets 125 secured to the frame 1 on the opposite sides of the elevator 3. I n

`Having' fully described our invention, it is to be understood that we'do not wish to be limited tothe details herein set forth, but/f our invention isof the `full scope of the We claim:

afl-Ppended 1,50

l. In an apparatus of the class described, the

' combination oi!` a conveyor, van elevator to which e cluding an elevator clutch, a conveyor clutch lever adapted to be engaged by boxes on the conveyor, an elevator clutch lever adapted to be engaged by boxes on the elevator, and means connecting said clutch levers so that combined engagement with the clutch levers is required to disengage the conveyor clutch.

2. In a box stack handling apparatus, the combination of a frame, -a draper conveyor mounted in the frame in upwardly inclined position, means secured to the draper conveyor upon which boxes are adapted to be positioned to be elevated by the conveyor, means for driving the draper conveyor, the. draper conveyor having openings therein, and means normally projecting through the openings in the draper conveyor to control the drive of the conveyor and adapted to be actuated by the'boxes as they are positioned in ele- -vated relation to the draper conveyor to actuate the conveyor drive. Y

3. In a box handling apparatus, the combination of a frame, a draper conveyor mounted in the iframe,y disengageable means for driving the draper conveyor, means extending through the draperconveyor and operably connected with the drive means for the conveyor and adapted to be engaged by boxes delivered to the conveyor to cause the conveyor drive to operate to drive the conveyor, and adapted to be held in drive-engaging position by the drapers 'of the draper conveyor.

4, An article transfer mechanism including a article conveyor, a conveyor drive means, said conveyor drive means including a clutch means normally maintained in driving engagement for operating the conveyor, an elevator to which articles are delivered by the conveyor, a drive means for the elevator, said elevator drive means including a clutch means normally maintained disengaged for rendering the elevator inoperative, an elevator clutch lever mounted in the path of the articles on the conveyor and operable thereby for actuating the elevator clutch into driving engagement for operating the elevator, a conveyor clutch lever mounted in the path of the articles on the conveyor and normally inoperative for actuating the conveyor clutch to stop the conveyor, and a iloating clutch link means operable only by the vJoint action of the conveyor and elevator clutch levers for disengag ing the conveyor clutch lor stopping the conveyor.

5. An article transfer 'mechanism including an article conveyor, aconveyor` drive means, said` conveyor drive means including a clutch means normally maintained in engagement for operating the conveyor, an elevator, to which articles are deliveredby the' conveyor, a drive means for the elevator, said elevator drive means including a c tch means normally maintained disengaged lo rendering the elevator inoperative,.an elevator clutch levermounted in the path of the articles on the conveyorJ and operable thereby for actuating the clutch into -driving engagement for operating the elevator, means for maintaining the elevator clutch in operative Y engagement until the elevato:` has completed a `full operating cycle, a conveyor clutch lever mounted in the path of the article on the'conveyor and. normally inoperative for actuating f the conveyor clutch to stop the conveyor, and a floating clutch link means operable only by the veyor, an elevator drive means, a control means for the conveyor and elevator drive means operable by an article delivered to the elevator for causing the elevatordrive means to drive the 4elevator through a complete operating cycle, and

operable by the next succeeding article for caus' ing the conveyor drive means tostop the conveyor when said control means have been actuated to cause the elevator drive means to operate the elevator, and said control means being fur-` ther operative upon the completion of the operating cycle of the elevator for actuating said .control means for causing the elevator drive means to stop the elevator and for causing theconveyor drive means to' again operate the conveyor.

8. Anarticle transfer mechanism including an article conveyor, a conveyor drive means. said V'conveyor drive means including a clutch means normally maintained in driving engagement for operating the conveyor, an inclined elevator,A

means carried by the elevator vi'or providing an Y article support, an elevator drive means, said elevatordrive means lincluding a clutch means normally maintained disengaged for rendering the elevator inoperative, an elevator clutch lever positioned to be actuated by the article moving into elevating position andoperable thereby lor actuating the elevator clutch into driving engager ment for operating the elevator, a conveyor clutch lever normalLv inoperative for actuating theconveyor clutch to stop the conveyor, a means interconnecting the elevator and conveyor clutch levers operable only by the joint action of the elevator and clutch levers for disengaging the conveyor clutch for stopping the conveyor, andl means operative when the next elevator support has moved into receiving position for actuating the elevator clutch lever for stopping the elevator and starting the conveyor.

ALBERT R. THOMPSON. CLINTON' C. BUTLER. 

